While sitting down to write a book review on Merm the Germ by Sarah Robinson, three little eager faces swarmed my desk.
“I was looking for that book, Mom,” my oldest cheered.
“But it’s my turn to read it,” my middle one whined.
“I love Merm,” squeaked my youngest, peeking through crowded shoulders.
Honestly, what better compliment can you get as a children’s book author? I could stop the review right here, and you’d get the point.
Discovering his true germ self
My eight-year-old is in that phase of life where he’s trying to figure out who he is. It’s one of the deeper reasons why he loves Merm the Germ. Merm is also in that stage of life, trying to figure out what kind of germ he wants to be.
At first, Merm is just a smaller-than-average germ who is nervous about his future. He doesn’t want to be a big-shot germ who travels the world to make everyone sick. He just wants to stay home and live a simple germ life.
But eventually, he realizes that maybe he doesn’t want to be simple. Maybe he has a bigger purpose, and it doesn’t have to be making people feel worse but better.
Merm realizes he can be a “good germ” and help fight off other germs that are only there to cause harm. It’s a wonderful teaching tool for parents looking for a way to explain different types of bacteria and the tiny little organisms that help and hurt our bodies.
Adorable illustrations throughout
I know germs aren’t supposed to be cute, but Merm is fricken adorable. I think the illustrations are one of my favorite parts, and I say this as a very picky children’s book reviewer with picky children to read to.
There have been times in my life when I have started reading a book to my boys that they refused to continue because of the illustrations. Some were too scary, some were too gross, and others they described as just plain “creepy.” Not Merm. We love the vibrant colors and watercolor-like style of Merm the Germ. The characters have so much expression it’s hard not to love them.
Illustrations can truly make or break a book. In fact, it’s one of the few cases when people almost always throw the “Don’t judge a book by its cover” motto out the window. I picked Merm the Germ because of the cover and the illustrations. My children picked it off my desk for the same reason. They weren’t disappointed.
Which is your favorite germ?
My kids love books so much that they play in them. They sit around a book and pretend to be the characters. They make up games to follow the story and sometimes bring props in to set the scene while they read.
With Merm the Germ, their favorite game—the one they started playing immediately upon me pulling out the book from my desk—is What’s your favorite germ? They slip through the pages and choose their favorites of the day. (My oldest loves the pink one that looks like a little squid!) Then, they pretend to be that germ, bringing the story to life in a whole new way.
Pick up Merm the Germ by Sarah Robinson
You can pick up Merm the Germ by Sarah Robinson on Amazon in paperback or Kindle. But wait! Did you know Merm the Germ went to Washington, DC too?! I have yet to find out what happens in this wonderful sequel, but I’m sure my kids will be begging to find out soon.
About the Writer: Shell Sherwood is a poet, fiction writer, freelancer, and creator of silly children’s stories who could live on coffee, pastries, and romantic tragedies. She lives in Hudson Valley, NY, with her three boys and aspires to own a small writing getaway in every climate. Shell is currently working on her debut poetry collection. Learn more about Shell and follow her writing journey via her author blog, Instagram, and TikTok.
Discover more by MWW Children’s Book Authors!
There are a ton of creative minds in our group who write amazing tales for kids. Here are a few more of our favorites!